Date: 1922-11-25
Source: ru:PSS/v54

Source: PSS, Volume 54

To Bukharin and Radek

The document you sent me—a draft, primarily formulated by Varga and approved by the commission—titled in German “Outline of an Agrarian Program of Action,” I have read, and I am deeply hesitant to endorse it.

It seems to me that this draft offers virtually nothing new compared to the resolution adopted at the Second Congress of the Comintern on the agrarian question. I am very concerned that certain formulations, which may—perhaps even inadvertently—deviate from the Second Congress resolution, could give rise to misunderstandings and prompt artificial interpretations suggesting a divergence between this draft and the Second Congress resolution. As if there were some distinction capable of undermining what was stated there regarding support for the peasant movement, and potentially fostering discord between the impoverished peasantry and the agricultural proletariat.

I am unable to delve into this matter in greater detail or to compare your draft resolution, phrase by phrase, with the resolution of the Second Congress. I believe it is imperative to exercise extreme caution so that we do not end up accumulating numerous resolutions on the same issue—resolutions that risk creating confusion and muddle rather than clarity.

At a minimum, I would suggest:
1. Comparing the new resolution, phrase by phrase, with the resolution of the Second Congress.
2. Giving this new resolution the character of something akin to a partial commentary.

In truth, I find the utility of this new resolution to be highly questionable.513

Lenin

Dictated over the telephone

November 25, 1922, 12:00 p.m.

First published,

from a typewritten copy